Thursday, February 24, 2011

encouragement

so many people have rallied around us throughout this adoption. some times i feel like God has used even the most random people to make this adoption possible, and that in and of itself has been fun to watch.


anyways, i cannot say enough about how grateful i am to all the people who have prayed for us and reached out with an encouraging word. this morning, i was laying in bed sulking and trying to convince myself to get up and get the day started, and i got the sweetest encouragement from alicia in the form of an email. we traveled on our first trip to ethiopia with alicia and her husband tim, and quickly learned that they are a very sweet, God fearing couple. they passed court along with us on december 21st, and are also still waiting on embassy clearance to bring their 3 children home. however, despite feeling bogged down and discouraged herself about this period of limbo, alicia took time out of her morning to email me what the Lord had been revealing to her in His word.

this means so much to me! not only were the verses she shared encouraging, but i also was very convicted. convicted about my negativity, convicted about my doubt, convicted about my self-pity, and convicted about my anger over not being in control. one of the verses she shared particularly spoke to me. here it is:

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." -Hebrews 12:11

especially the last several days, i have been incredibly tearful and not feeling very righteous! i have broken out the ugly cry on many occasions, and once i get started, i just can't stop!! however, this verse has encouraged me that the Lord IS training me and disciplining me through these hard times, not just trying to bring me pain or disappointment. while the process may not be pretty, i am praying that on the other side of this process, i can truly say that i love Him more than ever before and that i am letting go of even more of myself.

i've got a lot to learn, but boy am i thankful for friends who take the time to challenge and encourage me!!

2 comments:

Matt and Jess said...

great verse! needed to hear that for sure!

lindsay said...

thanks for passing on her encouragement to me yesterday. just what i needed to hear. praying for you guys.
ps...got the t-shirt in the mail yesterday. I LOVE it!!